According to the newspaper, those in the medical profession see a definite benefit to referring clients to attorneys in that the majority of these cases are settled before going to trial. Because the arrangement is amicable to begin with between the hospital and the medical malpractice attorney, hospital representatives say the settlement may be reached more quickly, resulting in faster compensation for the victim or the family.

Those in the legal field appear divided on the matter, however. Many medical malpractice attorneys wonder how anyone who was referred by the hospital could be impartial and provide proper representation for the patient. Critics contend that attorneys on hospital referral lists will encourage settlements that are more beneficial to the medical system so that they will receive more referrals, which is unfair to malpractice victims.

An attorney on one of the hospital’s referral list disagrees. He tod the Sun that his duty is to represent his client to the best of his abilities, regardless of how the client found out about him. The fact that the referred attorneys work for a reduced fee is also a benefit to the patients, he said.

Should the same institution that allegedly caused injuries or wrongful death through medical malpractice refer an attorney to help the victim obtain justice? The jury is still out.

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